As the 2024 RAPID+TCT event unfolded, industry leaders gathered to discuss the current landscape and future prospects of additive manufacturing (AM). The panel, comprising Avi Reichental (Nexa3D), Fried Vancraen (Materialise), Savi Baveja (HP), Nils Niemeyer (DMG MORI), and moderated by Laura Griffiths (The TCT Group), offered a candid look at the challenges and opportunities facing this dynamic sector.
The Promise and Reality of Additive Manufacturing
The session opened with a shared sense of optimism tempered by realism. The panelists agreed that while AM has made significant strides, it remains a technology marked by both remarkable achievements and ongoing hurdles.
Avi Reichental highlighted the transformative potential of AM, especially in fields like healthcare and aerospace. He cited examples such as the deployment of additive manufacturing systems in conflict zones, showcasing the technology’s ability to provide on-demand solutions in critical situations. However, Reichental also emphasized the need for the industry to shift from selling capabilities to delivering scalable solutions.
Fried Vancraen echoed these sentiments, pointing out that while AM has revolutionized certain sectors, it has not been an overnight success. Vancraen’s experience with Materialise, a company founded in 1990, underscores the slow and steady progress required to integrate AM into mainstream manufacturing. He noted that the industry must focus on creating real value and moving beyond the initial hype.
